CULT television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and
Charmed are being blamed for fuelling a fascination in
the occult among children.

The TV programmes and the popular Harry Potter series
of books have got kids hooked on witchcraft and
sorcery, according to the Pagan Federation.

The group has appointed its first youth officer in
response to the growing number of calls from children.
About 100 inquiries a month are being directed to the
organisation.

Pagan Federation media officer Andy Norfolk says the
youth officer explains to youngsters that the
principal ethic of witchcraft is to harm no one - and
is not just an easy way to get a boyfriend or
girlfriend.

The rise in interest in all things supernatural has
received a mixed reaction from clergy in Coventry.

The Rev Supriyo Mukherjee, of St Barnabas, Cromwell
Street, Foleshill, said it was up to parents to guide
their children. As long as youngsters were not delving
into evil, then he saw no problem.

Mr Mukherjee said: "Paganism has many forms. If
children are getting involved with evil, with Satanism
and devil worship, then it is dangerous, but there are
some aspects of paganism which are very similar to
other religions apart from Christianity."

But Canon Andrew White, International Director of
Coventry Cathedral, said the trend was worrying.

"Adults and children must not see the occult as
benign. Children who begin exploring can end up being
pulled into satanic cults."

He added that the church had to accept some of the
blame by not appealing enough to young people.

Mark Landreth-Smith, one of the organisers of the
Stoneleigh Bible Week, also believed there was a
danger of children getting lured into the occult, with
the prevalence of supernatural shows and literature.

"My advice to parents would be to use the programmes
and books positively.

"Say it is simply entertainment. But then use it as a
way of explaining about the supernatural realm and the
occult and how there is also supernatural God who
wants to love and cherish."

GRAPHIC: LOTS AT STAKE: Sarah Michelle-Geller as Buffy
the Vampire Slayer;; POPULAR: Melissa Joan Hart as
Sabrina Teenage Witch; CULT WORSHIP: Harry; Potter
(above) and Channel 5's Charmed (left) are said to be
a harmful influence on children